andMr. Reynolds asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give details of the targets of individual engineering districts for telephone installations in 1981; and the actual number of installations for each district.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

The following is the statement:

Is the Minister satisfied, with the target set for Dublin city, for example? Is he satisfied with the installation figures? Would he be kind enough, as it is a tabular statement, to give me the figures for the target for Dublin and state what has been achieved to date?

If the Deputy will be kind enough to me in future to ask for that information I will let him have it.

Never before in the history of this House when such a request was made to get statistics about six districts, as in this question, has it been given to the House in the form of a tabular statement. Arising from the tabular statement reply, if the Minister refuses to give it to us let him say so, but I will not have him hiding behind the bluffing act of a tabular statement.

For the benefit of people reading the Official Report at a later date the tabular statements are available to Deputies immediately Question Time is over. There is nothing hidden about it. It is quite normal for this type of question to be answered——

Why did the Minister not answer it?

Not alone is it normal for me to do it but it was the practice for the previous administration. Deputy Killilea and Deputy Reynolds did it ad infinitum when they were in office.

I refer the Minister back to a similar question asked after three-quarters of last year when I did not circulate a tabular statement. I came in and gave the details asked at that time. Why is the Minister of State hiding behind that information? Is he trying to avoid supplementaries in this area? He has the information in front of him in relation to Dublin district and we are asking about only one. Would he please read it out?

I am not in control of supplementaries. The Ceann Comhairle is in charge of supplementaries.

Would the Ceann Comhairle allow me to ask the Minister of State to read out the targets in relation to Dublin district only and we will not delay him any further?

I propose to circulate it with the Official Report.

Ceist 9.

The Ceann Comhairle is not responsible for replies.

This issue yesterday brought Deputy Leyden to this House. Obviously it is a ploy that Deputy Harte is going to use in future. There are only six districts and we are asking him for one, Dublin. He has it in front of him and he refuses to give the information in this House in answer to a supplementary question which is our right to get. A Cheann Comhairle, you should insist that he does not hide behind the protection of a tabular statement.

The Chair has no control over that. Ceist 9.

In order that the House can know I will give the facts. They are away behind by about 16,000 installations.

Deputy Killilea, we have to go to Question No. 9.

In view of the inadequate reply, I give notice that I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Are you asking my permission?

I am asking your permission, yes.

9.